Just like our fifth graders after their Skype visit with Rob Buyea, our fourth graders after meeting with Phil Bildner kept thinking, talking about and reflecting on their Skype visit. They shared something they learned as readers and writers as well as special messages for the author. Below are some of the most frequently heard comments that show how much they enjoyed the visit, how inspired they were to continue reading and writing, some new strategies they discovered, how much they enjoy Phil Bildner’s books and want him to continue to write books. There has been much request for his books in our library and I have promised our students a few more to enjoy before the end of the school year.

Here are some of our students’ voices:

​Something we learned about being readers…Reading can be fun.You should read a variety of books to know what you like.Read all kinds of different books by different authors: chapter books, picture books, graphic novels.You need to understand the topic of a book.Read different books so you can find new books.Phil Bildner likes reading all kinds of books and so do I.When you are an author, you can still read multiple types of books to be inspired by them.When you read different formats you can learn how to write different formats.If you read something you really like, then maybe you get inspired to read and learn about something else.You can learn from the books. And to be a good writer, you need to read more books.You can get inspired to write about something when you read.Read what you like to read.I learned to be enthusiastic and inspired from what I read.Read about subjects you are interested in.

​Something we learned about being writers…Writers always bring a notebook because when a writer travels and if suddenly they have an idea then they can write it down.When writing a book your voice always comes through.Always rewrite your story to make it even better.When you write something, you need to keep editing until you think that there is nothing to be changed, and to make your best effort.You have to edit things and write things over and over to get it right so it is your best work.Put in your best effort if you want to put your name on a book.No matter how long it takes, don’t give up writing!Write so that it makes the readers feel like you are reading the book to them.Everything has to be your best and if it’s not good then you have to write it again.It takes time to make a book.If you put your name on something, then it should be your best work.Put a little piece of your personality in your books.When you write a book you should write about something you like or know about.Write about what you love.

Something we would like Phil Bildner to know…I enjoy your books and you should keep making more.You are a very good author and I like your books.I like the way you write and I like your books.I like your books because they are funny and inspiring to read.I really like your books and you should keep writing.You should write more books/longer books about history and equality.I would love it if you tried to make more chapter books.You should write more picture books. I enjoy them!Write a graphic novel series.Keep recommending us books.I really enjoyed skyping you because we read your books but then skyping you was like reading one of your books but in real life.You are very energetic and cheerful and it was fun to skype with you.I like how you use all these cool words and how you are so pumped up all the time.You are super funny and nice and fun to talk to.I like how enthusiastic you are about writing.Can you please make a book about 4ren?

And the most often heard message is like the ones below, asking the author to come to Hong Kong:I really enjoyed the Skype and I hope you can come to Hong Kong.You are funny and nice and I would really like if you came to Hong Kong.Please come to Hong Kong and to HKA and talk at a assembly!It would be fun if you came to Hong Kong.Come to Hong Kong – it is epic!

Again a big, big THANK YOU, Phil BIldner, for making the visit such an inspiring experience for all of us!

More than two weeks have passed since Literacy Week and it has again been a bit more quiet on the library blog - but not in the library itself. It has been as busy as ever as you can also see from our constantly growing author inquiry display. The library is packed every morning with students reading, exchanging books, doing origami or playing a boardgame with a friend. During the day classes visit to inquire about authors, to discover new books for pleasure reading and personal inquiries, to participate in book clubs and literature circles and to dig deep into personal wonderings during inquiry circles as part of their current unit of inquiry (Sharing the Planet). Below are a few snapshots. Enjoy!

PK1 students exploring the difference between fiction and nonfiction/informational books...

PK2 making a new literary friend and discovering what life can look like in South Africa through Niki Daly's Jamela books...

Kindergartners finding out more about author Matt Cooper and getting a chance to connect to their prior learning under Sharing the Planet when listening to and discussing The Last Gibbon...

G1 continuing their inquiry about Atinuke and enthusiastically learning and sharing their learning about plants during inquiry circles...

G2 students embarked on a new author inquiry - Ying Chang Compestine - and are intrigued by the stories they heard so far and have many questions and wonderings already...

G3 students continuing to inquire about Lenore Look - currently we are reading Ruby Lu Brave and True, making connections to what we learned about and from her during our Skype as well as what we already know about Alvin Ho...

G4 students continue finding out more about Phil Bildner, surprised to discover how clearly they can hear his voice in his stories...

G5 students reflected on their Skype with Rob Buyea, in particular what they learned about writing from him and what strategies they might like to try out in their own writing...

Just like every day this week, we started the day with story time in different languages in the library. Today's readers shared stories in Italian and Mandarin, which were all very much enjoyed.

Then our fourth graders came to the library to meet with author Phil Bildner. Just like when reading one of his picture books for the very first time (Marvelous Cornelius), it was an instant connection. There were smiles and happy waving, yes even some enthusiastic cheers. Everybody was hooked, listening attentively to what the author had to share about his life as a writer and his creative work.

Our fourth graders had many questions and got lots of answers - for example about what inspired him to become a writer, whether there was an author that had influenced him in particular, what his writing process looks like and what he finds challenging when writing, about the themes in his books and why he chooses to write about them, how long it takes to write a book and whether he prefers writing picture or chapter books. There was also a lot of talk about books written by other authors as Mr. Bildner asked each student after they had asked their question what they had read recently. Our students loved hearing that they had so many favorite books in common with the author: Because of Winn Dixie, The One and Only Ivan, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the I Survived series, the Percy Jackson series, Reina Telgemeier's graphic novels and many more. I could tell that our students would have loved to continue chatting when our time was up; that much fun they had!

Our next agenda item was the much anticipated Battle of the Books between a team of teachers and parents against all of our students. To make it a manageable task in a short period of time, we had selected just 6 books from the list of 20 for parents to prepare. And prepared they came, ready to challenge our students. It took our parent/teacher team a few minutes to get into the competition but from then on it was a close race. Hardly any questions were missed on either side. While the atmosphere was more competitive than usually during our practice meetings, it remained friendly with lots and lots of smiles all around - also because everybody had some yummy treats to nibble on. The final count put the students just one point ahead of the parents - and the parents are already asking for a rematch.

The third highlight of the day was our fifth graders' Skype with Rob Buyea, author of the much loved Mr. Terupt series. After listening to the first book in the series, Because of Mr. Terupt, as a class read-aloud, all of our students were looking forward to meeting the author - and so were we librarians and teachers. This was already our third Skype with Mr. Buyea, and from past Skypes, I knew that without any doubt, this would be another fantastic experience. I couldn't wait for this year's fifth graders to be blown away and inspired by him, hearing him talk about his writing - and the importance of reading.

Our students had many writing questions which Mr. Buyea answered with much detail - for example what he enjoys about writing, what his favorite writing environment and tools are, how he plans his stories, what tips he has for getting ideas, what skills you need to write a book, and whether he has a favorite writer and favorite books. He mentioned many authors he admires, such as Christopher Paul Curtis, Gordon Korman and Richard Peck, and recommended a number of books by other authors to our students as well: All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, Wolf Hollow (which some of our students who knew the book already greeted with loud cheers), and Masterminds. Especially excited everybody got, when he showed us an advanced reader copy of his newest book, The Perfect Score, which will be released in October, and told us a bit about the story which is again written from different perspectives. When spontaneous applause broke out, I knew that our fifth graders are as much looking forward to reading this book as I do!

There would be so much more to say about our wonderful authors but I will stop here for today and in the upcoming weeks let our students share more with you about what they learned, what they took away from meeting the authors - tips, ideas and surely, above all, inspiration.

A big THANK YOU to both Phil Bildner and Rob Buyea, for staying up late to Skype with us here in Hong Kong, for sharing their amazing stories with us and for inspiring us to become the best readers and writers we can possibly be!